Tarako
Japanese actress, voice actress and singer (1960–2024)

Tarako
Tarako in 2015
Born(1960-12-17)December 17, 1960
Ōta, Gunma, Japan[1]
DiedMarch 4, 2024(2024-03-04) (aged 63)
Occupations
Years active1981–2024
EmployerTroubadour Musique Office
Height158 cm (5 ft 2 in)

Tarako (たらこ, Tarako; December 17, 1960 – March 4, 2024)[1][2][3][4] was a Japanese actress, voice actress and singer. Her debut role was as a preschooler on Urusei Yatsura. She was better known as the voice of Momoko "Maruko" Sakura, the titular character in the long-running anime series Chibi Maruko-chan from its debut in 1990 until its conclusion in 1992 and its subsequent revival, which premiered in 1995 and continues to air as of today. She was employed by the talent management firm Troubadour Musique Office.[5][6]

Following her death in March 2024, Kokoro Kikuchi took over the role of Maruko in Chibi Maruko-chan after the show resumed from its month-long hiatus on April 21 of that year.[7]

Death

Around November 2023, Tarako was diagnosed with a serious illness for which she was immediately hospitalized. At the beginning of her hospital stay she was still well enough to continue voice acting, however, her condition gradually worsened to the point where she could no longer stand and she showed no sign of improvement.

Tarako died on March 4, 2024, at the age of 63. She had recorded her final lines for Chibi Maruko-Chan in the days just before her death.[8][3][4][9]

The producers of Chibi Maruko-chan, as well as her talent agency Troubadour, Fuji Television and Nippon Animation announced her death to the public five days later on March 9, 2024.[10][9]

In a eulogy written by the staff of Chibi Maruko-chan, they said that she had been eager to continue voicing her character Maruko while in the hospital and continued through her illness with "great love" for her work.[10] The following day a message board was put up at the entrance to Chibi-Maruko Chan Land in Shizuoka for guests and fans to contribute messages of commemoration and thanks for her years of work.[11]

The last episode Tarako recorded as Maruko aired as a one-hour special on March 24, 2024, on Fuji TV and other FNS stations.[12]

Filmography

Animation

Television

Original video animation (OVA)

  • Hunter × Hunter OVA (Melody)
  • NG Kishi Ramune & 40 DX (Hebimetako)
  • NG Kishi Ramune & 40 EX (Hebimetako)

Films

Commercials

Drama CDs

  • Eiyū Densetsu III: Shiroki Majo "Wakatareta Mizuumi" (Ban Ban)
  • Kaze no Densetsu Xanadu II: Heroine-tachi no Tanjōbi (Kururu)
  • Popful Mail Paradise 4–5 (Nairu)
  • Tarako Pappara Paradise (Tarako-neesan, Kururu, Nairu, Ban Ban, Obāsan

Live action

Films

Video games

Radio

  • Tarako Falcom Pīhyarara

Other voiceover

Fuji TV

  • The Judge! Tokusuru Hōritsu File "Korette Tsumi Janai no" segment (Narration)
  • Naruhodo! The World (Reporter)
  • Quiz & Game Tarō to Hanako (Host)

NHK Educational

  • Okome (Narration)

TBS

  • Shiawase Kazoku Keikaku (Narration)

TV Asahi

  • Zenigata Kintarō (Narration)

Other

Discography

Listed chronologically.

Albums

  • Totte Oki no Shunkan (1983)
  • Kaze ga Chigau (1984)
  • Warawanai Koibito (1985)
  • Kokuhaku (1985)
  • Sukoshi Dake Ai ga Tarinai (1986)
  • Anata ga Daisuki (1990)
  • Kanojo (1991)
  • My dear (1991)
  • Tengoku yori Takai Toko Ikō yo (1993)
  • Wāi. (1995)

References

  1. ^ a b "【TARAKO】プロフィール(年齢・身長) - エキサイトニュース". Excite News (in Japanese). Excite Japan. March 9, 2021. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  2. ^ "TARAKO - タレントデータバンク" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on September 21, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "「まる子」声優のＴＡＲＡＫＯさん死去、６３歳…「いけずぅ」「わたしゃ疲れたよ」お茶の間に" (in Japanese). Yomiuri Shimbun. March 9, 2024. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "声優のTARAKOさん死去 「ちびまる子ちゃん」の主人公まる子役" (in Japanese). The Asahi Shimbun. March 9, 2024. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  5. ^ "TARAKO｜アニメキャラ・プロフィール・出演情報・最新情報まとめ". animate Times (in Japanese). animate. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  6. ^ Doi, Hitoshi. "Tarako". Seiyuu Database. July 5, 2010. Archived March 9, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ Antonio Pineda, Rafael (April 11, 2024). "Kokoro Kikuchi Debuts as Chibi Maruko-chan Anime's Lead Role on April 21". Anime News Network. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  8. ^ "TARAKOさん"最期のまる子"音声を初公開 重い病も気丈に振る舞う". Oricon (in Japanese). December 18, 2024. Retrieved August 27, 2025.
  9. ^ a b "トルバドール音楽事務所の公式ホームページ". Archived from the original on March 11, 2024. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  10. ^ a b "TARAKO氏のご逝去について". Fuji Television Network, Inc. March 9, 2024. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  11. ^ "ボイス・オブ『ちびまる子』TARAKOさんロス…訃報にアニメの舞台・静岡市清水区でも悲しみの声広がる". Shizuoka Daiichi Television Corporation (in Japanese). March 11, 2024. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  12. ^ "ＴＡＲＡＫＯさんの後任は「対応検討中」とフジ 最後の出演回は３月２４日にオンエア". The Sankei Shimbun. March 9, 2024. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  13. ^ "TARAKO Replaces Nobuyo Oyama as Monokuma in Danganronpa Franchise". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  14. ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (February 24, 2024). "Tomokazu Sugita, TARAKO Join Cast of Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction Anime Films". Anime News Network. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  15. ^ "【2月12日】今日はPCE版『コットン』の発売26周年！【レトロゲーム】". Gamedrive. February 12, 2019. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  • Official agency profile (in Japanese)
  • Tarako at IMDb
  • Tarako discography at MusicBrainz
  • Tarako discography at Discogs
  • Tarako at GamePlaza-Haruka Voice Acting Database (in Japanese)
  • Tarako at Hitoshi Doi's Seiyuu Database
  • Official statement about the death of Takaro Archived March 8, 2024, at the Wayback Machine
  • Tarako at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
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